The initial donation by Helios will hire staff, develop a pipeline of prospects and projects, and build awareness of the work with hopes of eventual additional project funding coming from the federal government, the state of Florida, foundations, and other funders.

The center will actively create digital learning projects focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), while also evaluating digital learning models, supporting Florida-based demonstration projects and research, and improving methods of student collaboration and assessment, according to a Helios release.

"We want to learn more about how digital learning can improve student success. That's why we're excited about this partnership," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna, in a release. "This new Center will provide insights into effective, efficient, and measurable methods of using digital learning in the classroom."

Whitepapers

In 2013, just one year after becoming the first school in South Florida to issue iPads to every student as part of its 1:1 initiative, Archbishop McCarthy began evaluating new learning management systems to replace the LMS used by the school for a decade. Principal Richard P. Jean said the school’s primary goal was to find a modern LMS that paired well with iPads and that enabled students to “get the most” from the 1:1 initiative in high school and beyond.
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